The solution will monitor the temperature and humidity levels in properties, minimising issues including damp and condensation and, in some cases, combatting fuel poverty.
North will use intelligent technology to provide information that ensures a safe and healthy environment for the tenant, while allowing the housing association to manage the properties in real-time to help reduce operational costs.
The data captured by the sensors will help Sovereign record and analyse moisture readings every 30 minutes, enabling the organisation to proactively intervene and minimise issues including damp and mould.
Phase one of the project will see the technology installed in 200 homes through an ‘opt in’ package for tenants, with the smart data and insights fed back to a management platform, enabling any emerging issues to be identified at an early stage.
Mark Lowe, business development director at North, said, “The devices have the potential to mitigate serious issues, including dampness, which can create unruly damage to homes and negatively impact the health of residents. The IoT devices are already creating a force for good for the residents who have the smart sensors installed, as well as enabling Sovereign to make smarter decisions to deliver better outcomes.”
Gareth King, head of product management, Sovereign, said, “Now we’ve installed this tech, we’re starting to look at what the data is telling us, spotting possible issues for our customers and the support we may need to offer them, as well as any fabric improvements.
“The data will also let us be more proactive. Even if other homes don’t have this technology, information from the devices will help us identify other similar homes – perhaps in the same street or of a similar age and construction – which we need to look more closely at too. [That could be] in terms of repairs but also to help us prioritise bigger investment projects like replacement heating systems, insulation or even redevelopment.”
In addition to monitoring for potential damp or mould conditions, the data will allow the housing association to measure areas such as co2 levels and air quality, while they will have access to temperature levels within homes over Winter – allowing them to offer support to residents who might be experiencing fuel poverty.